Chairman of the Sunda Custom Council Promotes Research on Lingga Stone, the Umbrella Mountain, Its History has not been Revealed

TASIKMALAYA - The General Chair of the Sunda Custom Assembly (MASDA) Anton Charliyan encourages serious research on the Lingga Stone of the Payung Mountain in Sirnajaya Village, Karangjaya District, Tasikmalaya Regency. The site in the hill area is considered to contain traces of Sunda history that have not been fully revealed.

Anton Charliyan, who is familiarly known as Abah Anton, said the public knew the site as the Lingga Payung Stone because it was located on the Payung Mountain Hill, Awi Luar Village. The area has long been believed to be a sacred place and a ritual location.

According to Abah Anton, the site is often associated with the Galuh Kingdom, Nagara Tengah, and the journey of Bujangga Manik in the 15th century. However, the historical relationship still requires academic and archaeological studies.

"This Lingga stone is mentioned in old stories and records as a holy place. There are many things that have not been revealed, including its relationship with the journey of Bujangga Manik," said Abah Anton in his statement received Wednesday, July 29.

The Chairman of MASDA referred to the Bujangga Manik manuscript, an ancient Sundanese manuscript that contains the journey of a wandering nobleman. In the manuscript, the existence of a holy place with a shining linga is mentioned, as well as a number of residential buildings around it.

The former West Java Police Chief said the Payung Mountain area also had a number of points that were still respected by the community. Among them were Batu Pangasahan Maung, two old kiara trees, the Cikahuripan water source, and two ancient tombs believed to be the tombs of local ancestors.

Around the hilltop, the community still carries out the Nyagara Gunung tradition and cleans the kabuyutan area. This tradition is usually held in the month of Maulud and before Ramadan.

Abah Anton assessed that the tradition that has survived until now shows that the site still has an important meaning for the community. Therefore, the history of Batu Lingga Gunung Payung is not enough to be built from oral stories.

According to Abah, research is needed to test the age of the site, the initial function of the area, its relationship with ancient manuscripts, as well as the origin of the remains found at the location.

"This is not just about a mystery story. The site needs to be studied so that its historical and cultural value can be explained responsibly," he said.